Jack6849 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Among my Gibsons are two Bozeman guitars that I'm curious about whether Ren Ferguson might have had a hand in building.... One is a "Jackson Browne Signature Model 1" (no electronics); the other is a "Western Classic Prewar 200". Both were built in 2011. Neither has Ren's signature on its label. The "Jackson Browne" has a Master Model Certificate which is signed by Ren; the "Western Classic" did not come from Montana with a certificate of any kind. Both guitars are wonderful instruments. How likely is it that Ren actually built either of these fine guitars? Thank you. Jack6849 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I don't know if this is true, but someone said he signs the underside of the tops on guitars he works on.....Can someone verify that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 How likely is it that Ren actually built either of these fine guitars? The probability that he did is basically 0. But, as the guy who built the production line and designed the guitars and procured the wood and ... , he had far more to do with how they came out than anyone else. And I think he took more pride in great guitars that rolled off the line than great ones he had a direct hand in building. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I don't know if this is true, but someone said he signs the underside of the tops on guitars he works on.....Can someone verify that? He signed the tops he built (which is about all he's done in the way of building, other than prototypes and a some customs, in quite awhile) and often added an inscription. Signed labels and certificates are no indication he did anything special other than signing. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 The probability that he did is basically 0. But, as the guy who built the production line and designed the guitars and procured the wood and ... , he had far more to do with how they came out than anyone else. And I think he took more pride in great guitars that rolled off the line than great ones he had a direct hand in building. -- Bob R When you speak of "rolled off the line", I am curious. Can anyone share knowledge of the annual unit production from the Bozeman Plant in recent years. Would be interesting to compare annual production since the startup of the plant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 there is proof of him writings on the wood JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack6849 Posted January 19, 2012 Author Share Posted January 19, 2012 Thanks to rar (and others) for your replies. When Ren builds "his own" acoustics I wonder what they'll be like.... "Gibson-influenced" hybrid models?... perhaps a bit more "Martinesque"?.... or maybe something "completely different" and more "boutique" in nature. It's fun to speculate. Whatever... I want one. Jack6849 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogeye Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 When you speak of "rolled off the line", I am curious. Can anyone share knowledge of the annual unit production from the Bozeman Plant in recent years. Would be interesting to compare annual production since the startup of the plant. 1991 the goal was 35 a day. 2008 it was 45-50 with a push to 65 if needed. Gibson was never interested in high volume. The size of the plant and the number of employees plus the demand dictate production. The foreign market is very strong now so I imagine the 65 figure is pretty close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogeye Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Thanks to rar (and others) for your replies. When Ren builds "his own" acoustics I wonder what they'll be like.... "Gibson-influenced" hybrid models?... perhaps a bit more "Martinesque"?.... or maybe something "completely different" and more "boutique" in nature. It's fun to speculate. Whatever... I want one. Jack6849 I have seen several Ferguson guitars that were built when Ren was in production in California. They are very similar to Martins. He lost his entire inventory of wood including a big stash of Brazilian in a fire and closed his shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 When you speak of "rolled off the line", I am curious. Can anyone share knowledge of the annual unit production from the Bozeman Plant in recent years. Would be interesting to compare annual production since the startup of the plant. Expanding on Hogeye's remarks just a bit ... The max output has been between about 50 and 70 guitars a day for some years. (For comparison purposes, Martin and Taylor are well beyond 300 per day.) A plant expansion or major changes in production techniques (or a second shift, which was considered a few years ago -- they were actually interviewing) would be required to increase that number. When the plant started, it was one guitar every once in awhile (as they were basically hand-built by Ren, and later others as Ren trained more luthiers). -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I have seen several Ferguson guitars that were built when Ren was in production in California. They are very similar to Martins. He lost his entire inventory of wood including a big stash of Brazilian in a fire and closed his shop. I believe his old shop on Lincoln Blvd is available for rent at the moment, in case he changes his mind and decides to move back to LA. :) -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I've seen a Ferguson Guitar and it was Martin Style . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 In keeping with the Gibson bird theme(Dove and Hummingbird) I suggest that he build a Ren Wren model... What Ya'll think of dat.... The Wren is certainly more noble than the lowly Sparrow... 'Specially a Carolina Wren ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I wish Ren was on here to show what he has built.. Hes built some Beautiful Guitars.. To Me anything from the Era of Rens time frame is worthy Having , whether he watched over the Build or ....... He set the Stage for the Modern Gibson Acoustics.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack6849 Posted January 20, 2012 Author Share Posted January 20, 2012 I've been playing Gibsons for about fifty years. In that time I've owned a lot of them, and I have to say that the Bozeman Gibsons I've bought in recent years (admittedly, they've been mostly top models and special orders....) have been a match for anything I've ever owned in the "vintage" category. In fact, Bozeman acoustics brought me back to Gibson after a number of memorable "disappointments" from the 1970s, the 1980s, and even the early 1990s. Now that I'm back to being a "true believer" again, I hope Ren's departure doesn't result in a lessening of the quality to which I have become accustomed from Gibson's acoustic guitar product in recent years . Another concern that I'm having has to do with an industry that seems to be running out of top-quality building materials (as perhaps evidenced by various manufacturer's recent moves to begin using "substitute" tonewoods on their frontline models.) I know that R.E. Brune says there are lots of great tonewoods out there but I still find the situation worrying. To me, it makes a case for getting what you want before it's just no longer available.(At least that's one excuse for buying guitars that I find myself using more and more these days.) Check out Martin's new NAMM Show entries for what might construed by a "traditionalist" as a very scary look at the future. I applaud Chris Martin's forward-looking approach but I'm not sure I can see myself making the move to Sapele (or even a "low profile" neck) in my own acoustic guitar collection. I'll be looking forward with interest to Ren Ferguson's "new direction", wherever that might lead him. Thank you, Jack6849 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.